Battle of Midway at top of game for San Antonio Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Battle of Midway has won 2 of 4 starts since he returned to training in late spring following a failed career at stud in Kentucky. Judging from his recent stakes wins at Santa Anita and Del Mar, Battle of Midway may be approaching peak form.

Best known for winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in 2017, Battle of Midway will be favored in Wednesday’s Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said that Battle of Midway has been training like the 4-year-old never left the stable. Hollendorfer said “there was no enlightening moment” when he realized Battle of Midway would be just as good in this second act of his career.

“It seems like when he came back he felt very comfortable and was training wonderfully,” Hollendorfer said. “Even though he was in the breeding shed, it didn’t affect the way he trains.”

Battle of Midway won the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes against two rivals Nov. 25 at Del Mar, his fifth stakes win. Battle of Midway was a well-beaten third in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, finishing 7 3/4 lengths behind Always Dreaming.

Battle of Midway, who tends to race near the front, will have as many as eight opponents in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes.

The cast includes the stayer Beach View; Dabster, a game second in the Native Diver; Gift Box, a recent addition to trainer John Sadler’s stable; and the 3-year-olds Air Strike and Tatters to Riches, who also were under consideration for Wednesday’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Battle of Midway, by Smart Strike

Last 3 Beyers: 100-99-98

◗ Battle of Midway finished a neck in front of Dabster in the Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles after the two fought through the race together, never separated by more than a half-length. Battle of Midway won the Comma to the Top Stakes at a mile here Oct. 28 by closing from third in a field of six.

◗ Owned by Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm, Battle of Midway is a candidate for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

“I keep thinking about that in the back of my mind,” Hollendorfer said. “If you have a horse that can get in there, you have to think about it.”

Dabster, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 99-99-93

◗ Dabster won two stakes in late summer. The Native Diver was the closest the 4-year-old colt has come to winning a graded stakes.

◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Dabster is another runner likely to be in the front rank.

“The Curlins are grinders,” Baffert said.

Gift Box, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 99-99-99

◗ Formerly trained by Chad Brown, Gift Box joined Sadler’s stable in September and has worked steadily since early October. Now owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Gift Box, 5, has yet to win a stakes. He was second in the Curlin Stakes and fourth in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in 2016.

◗ The San Antonio Stakes will be Gift Box’s first start since an easy win in an optional claimer at Aqueduct last March.

“I think he’ll be a handicap horse on this circuit,” Sadler said. “He’s coming off a little bit of a layoff, but he’s trained well. I’m a little guarded because I’d like to see one.”